Curating Fashioning Our History @ London Borough of Culture

For 'Fashioning Our History' exhibition, we have taken inspiration from Alexander McQueen's 'Unlocking Stories' experimental space located at the top floor of the Old Bond Street Store. The location has a programme of exhibitions, talks and events aimed at inspiring students and aspiring creatives.  'Unlocking Stories' is relevant to 'Fashioning Our History' in two major ways; the first being 'Unlocking Stories's curated programme of public events and events, similar to 'Fashioning Our History's series of workshops and lectures curated by Warren Reilly.  The second being is the 'backstage access', to Alexander McQueen's works in progress, stories, documents of teamwork in the design and production process, and works from the collection. The Old Bond Street Store's exhibition aims to make public the "research narratives" that went into making famous McQueen collections. We aim to take inspiration from 'Unl...

My initial research began by looking at the venue in which Fashioning Our History will be exhibited, Willesden Green Library.  The building itself is a newly renovated public space that hosts a library as well as a public gallery. Although the interior is modern in design, it's Victorian heritage is still able to be seen through its antique façade.  The exhibition will be held in the gallery's main atrium/reception area which has an open-plan layout. Whereas the workshops and lectures will be held in the education and conference rooms, turning the library into a creative hub. The library also contains the Brent Museum and archives which myself and Warren will be using to inform the Fashioning Our History exhibition. The archives hold historical records consisting of photographs, newspaper clippings etc dating back to 1870 which reflect domestic and working life in Brent from 1850. The founding collection of which was left to Brent borough in 1937 by Victorian antiquarian Titus...